Side frame



June 12, 1934. w. c. HEDGCOCK ET AL SIDE FRAME Filed Aug. 16, 1950 5 Sheets-:Sheet l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. C. HEDGCOCK ET AL SIDE FRAME Filed Aug. 16,

June 12, 19 34.

June 12, 1934.

w. c. HEDGCOCK ET AL 5 IDE FRAME Filed Aug. 16, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 12, 1934.

w. c; HEDGCOCK ET AL 5 IDE FRAME Filed Aug. 16, 1930 5Sheets -Sheet 4 June 12, 1934. w, H D C-OCK A 1,962,443

SVIDE FRAME Filed Aug. 16, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 12, 1934 SIHDE ram William C. Hedgcock and Robert B. Cottrell, Chicago, Ill., assignors to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, ML, a corporation of New Jersey minimum August it, 1930, Serial in. awe as Claims. (or. 105-205) This invention pertains to side frames for rail.- way car trucks and the like, and more particularly to that class of side frames which are bf the truss type. I

In. the usual form-of truck side frame -wheel and axle assemblies are disposed to carry sid'e frames, which frames, as a complete structure, support a bolster through the medium of sult= able coil or other springs. The members of the side frames are disposed to give substantially a so-called truss design, and to this end there are provided an upper compression member and a lower tension member disposed between journal boxes, the said members being spaced apart adjacent the center of the frames and connected by spaced vertical columns. A portion of the tension member is used as a beam extending between the columns, and forms a convenient spring seat for the bolster supporting springs for trans- .0 mitting the load from the bolsters to the truss structure. This spring supporting portion of the tension member is thereforesubjected to bend-' ing action which, by the rigid connection of said portion with the rest of the truss structure, particularly at the columns, induces bending in the other members and thus tends to derange or deranges the true truss action and causes bending stresses to be added to the direct stresses. Further, the points of support of the side frame on c? the axles through the journal boxes are not at the true junctions of the tension and compression members but are in reality on extending cantilever portions which are so adapted as to provide a practical seat for the journal boxes and may have the journal boxes cast integrally therewith and depending therefrom. This results in a further lack of equilibrium, this time adjacent the journal boxes, because here again there is not a true truss action. The strength therefore of this construction must be largely dependent upon the stiffness and rigidityof themembers adjacent the journal bones.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a side frame which is of substantially true truss structure and functions as such.

Another object of this inventidn is to provide a side frame construction wherein a plurality of truss structures are utilized.

A further object of this invention is toi provide" a side .frame of such construction as will fulfill all, requirements of manufacture and service.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed'out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto. In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of one form of truck side frame embodying the inven 'tion;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional elevation through the compression member of the side frame, the same being taken substantially in the plane as indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional elevation through the tension member of the side frame, the same being taken substantially in the plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of truck side frame;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional elevation through the compression member of the side frame, the same being taken substantially in the plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure '6 is a transverse sectional elevation through the tension member of the side frame, the same being taken substantially in the plane as indicated by the line 66 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the modified form of truck structure shown in Figure 4;

, Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of still another modified form of side frame;

Figure 9 is aside elevation, shown more or less diagrammatically, of the usual form of truck side frame, indicating the fundamental structure thereof; k v 1 Figure 10 is a diagrammatic" representation of the fundamental structure of the usual form of truck side frame, illustrating representative loading;

Figure ii is a diagrammatic representation corresponding to Figure 10, the same showing certain tendencies resulting from. stresses induced therein;

, Figure 12 is a diagrammatic representation corresponding to Figure 11, showing the actual tendency of the members under load;

. Figure 13 is a diagrammatic representation of a side frame, showing one method of obtaining equilibrium; I

Figure 14 is 'a' diagrammatic representation of the side frame, showing a modified form of means ,for obtaining equilibrium; and

Figure 15 is a fragmentary side elevation of a side frame, corresponding substantially to the side frame shown in Figures II. and 4, showing the diagram illustrated in Figure 14 superposed thereon.

In order to more clearly understand the action of the improved side frame herein to be more fully described, reference is made to Figures 9 to.

frame 10, it will be seen, is supported at 18 and is "loaded as indicated by the arrows 20 on the horizontal 'member or spring seat 22 of the tension member 24, said tension member also comprising upwardly extending sloping members 26 which merge into downwardly sloping members 28 of the compression member 30, the sloping members 28 thereof being joined together by a substantially horizontal member 32. The junction of the members 28 and 26 is carried over the journal box in a portion 34 and is formed integral with said journal boxes. The tension and compression members are joined by integrally formed struts or columns 36. The member 22, in addition to being a tension member, is also a beam carrying a load on its intermediate portion and supported at points 38.

It will be seen by referring to these figures that while the usual truck frame has some of the elements of a truss, it is not and does not act like av true truss since the compression members 28 and the tension members 26 are not joined over the point of support 18, but are each joined to what .in effect is a cantilever beam, comprising the portions 40 and 42 which extend to the point of support 18.

Referring particularly to the stress diagram as imposed on the triangle 4042--44, the arrows represent the stresses wherein the reaction, as shown by the arrow at 18, imposes compressive stresses in 42 and tension stresses in 40. The loading, as represented by the arrows 20, sets up tension stresses in the tension member 26, as represented by the arrow, so that the combined stresses set up in the above referred to side frame produce a resultant force, as indicated at 46,

which tends to upset the equilibrium of the structure and permits or causes the structure to tend to assume the shape indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 11, the end portion rotating in a direction illustrated by the arrow 48. This would cause a shortening of the members 28, and a slight elongation of the members 26, as illustrated by the dotted lines in Figure 11, the members 28 in reality tending to bend under the loading, as shown in Figure 12. Thus the structure depends upon the strength and rigidity at the resultant 46, and the resistance to fiexure inthe compression member 28 to prevent flexurei}; This results in overstresses at the point where'ithe resultant acts, and of course thejlexing of the member 28 would impair its strength as a column.

In order to resist the tendency-cf flexure in the compression member, a structure may be resorted to such as illustrated in Figure 13, wherein the tendency of the compression member 28 to bend is met by providing a structure in which the reaction 18 acts in a manner as has already been described on members 42 and 40. The diagonal member 50 is disposed to join the member 40 and the compression member 32 at the junction of the column 36 and the tension members 28 and 30.

The structure comprising the members 28, 50, 40 42 is therefore in the 'nature of a beam in which there is sufficient resistance to bending in the portions 28 and 50 to prevent flexure and distortion, thereby preventing overstresses at the upper point of termination C of the member 28.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 14 and 15, wherein Figure 15 represents the stress diagram as shown in Figure 14 as superposed (in dotted lines) on the truck frame structure, a slightly different arrangement has been resorted to wherein the member 50 shown in Figure 13 has been replaced by the member 52, the arrows representing the direction of the stresses. The additional member 54 has been added to join the opposite members 52. The reactions of the members 28 and 52 form a couple which prevent the tendency of rotation in the cantilever A, B, C. This stress diagram therefore results in a construction as diagrammatically indicated in Fi ure 15.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, which embody the principles above enumerated, the side frame consists essentially of an upper compression member 120 including sloping members 122 merging into journal boxes 124 and also formed integral with the tension member 126, which includes sloping members 128 merging into said journal boxes and into the members 122. Spaced columns 130 are provided between the journal boxes and integral with the upper compression member 120 and the lower tension member 126, said columns being provided with guides 132 for cooperative relation with complementary guide portions formed on the usual bolsters. The upper compression member-120 is formed between the columns 130 with a substantially horizontal portion 134, and the lower tension member between the columns is provided with a substantially parallel horizontal portion 136.

It has been found desirable to form the sloping members 122 and 126 of substantially U-shape, the side walls 38 thereof being formed, in the modification shown in Figure 1, with reenforcing portions 140, while in the modification shown in Figure 4 the sections have only inwardly directed flanges or reflanged portions 142 provided on flanges 144. The refianged portions 142 of the construction illustrated in Figure 4 and reflanged portions 145 of Figure 1 merge adjacent the inner corner of the journal boxes as at 147, said merged portion merging into said inner corner of said journal boxes. Suitable brackets 146 are formed on the column guides and compression member, and the widened flange 148 is formed on the bottom of the horizontal member 134, forming a reenforcement therefor. The upper wall 150 of the compression member extends to and merges into the outer corner 151 of the' journal box 124, and the inner corner 152 of the journal box may be'further reenforced by means of the brackets 154, the journal box being further connected to the tension member by means of a gusset 156, the spaced flanges of the'compression member and connected by means of the center straps 157- shown in Figure 4 and by the intermediate straps 159 shown in Figures 1 and 4.

The horizontal portion 136 of the tension member is provided-with a thickened bottom wall 158', and an upper enlarged seat portion 160 is formed integral with the column flange 162 which has a sloping portion extending from said columns to the seat portion. The seat portion is provided with suitably disposed lugs 164 for positioning the usual springs in recesses 166, and the seat portion 160 is reenforced by. means of brackets or lugs 168 formed integral with the seat portion and the sidewalls of the members 136, said seat portion being further reenforced by the member 170 disposed as a web in the tension member.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 4 to 7 inclusive.) and from the point as indicated at 1'72, the walls of the tension member are thickened and tapered downwardly on the circumference of a circle, as indicated at 174, to give additional strength at the base ofv the column. v

It will be understood that the construction in Figure 8 may be used with the structure illustrated in Figures 1 to? inclusive, change being made only to the portion of the tension member between the column guides, and this structure may also be used with side frames constructed in accordance with the diagram illustrated in Figure 13, described above. It may also. be found that this construction may be used with the standard side frame.

In this construction, the tension member 326 includes sloping members 328 merging adjacent the bottom edges thereof into a substantially horizontal member 336. In usual beam construction, spring seat portions 312 and 370 are in tension and portions 368 and 314 are in compression,

' and the strength and-stiffness of the whole spring seat are dependent upon its girder strength alone. By the addition however, of the tension webs 316,

which in effect are continuations of the webs 380,

in alignment with the upper portion of the sloping portions 328, the tension stresses at 312 are carried through to those at 370 without having it depend entirely on the side walls orvertical webs of the tension member to transmit/them, and it has also been found desirable to thicken the portion 312. In this case, the forces are directly transmitted through the structure, and the strength and stiffness of the spring seat are greatly increased. To avoid undue masses of metal which might cause casting difficulties, lightening holes 388 and 390 are provided at the junction points as at 316 and 368, and 316 and 312.

It is to be understood that we do not ,wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device' shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent tojthose skilled in the art without departing frorrl' the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

1. In a truck frame, the combination of a tension and compression merhberin'erging at the ends thereof into journal boxes integrally formed therewith, columns disposed between said journal boxes and integral with said members, one of said members being substantially of inverted U-shape having upper and lower portions form- I ing a plurality of reenforcing members connected by spaced walls and extending from said columns and merging into opposite corners of said journal boxes. g

2. In a truck frame, the combination of a tension and compression member merging at the ends thereof into journal boxes integrally formed therewith, columns disposed between said journal boxes and integral with said members, one

of said members being substantially of inverted U-shape having upper and lower portions forming a'plurality of spaced reenforcing members extending from said columns and merging into opposite corners of said journal boxes.

3. In a truck frame, the combination of a tension and compression member merging at the ends thereof into journal boxes integrally formed therewith, columns disposed between said journal boxes and integral withsaid members, said compression member being substantially of inverted U-shape having upper and lower portions forming a plurality of reenforcing members extending from said columns and merging into opposite corners of said journal boxes.

4. In a truck frame, the combination of a tension and compression member merging at the ends thereof into journal boxes integrally formed therewith, columns disposed between said journal boxes and integral with said members, said compression member being substantially of inverted U-shape having upper and lower portions forming a plurality of spaced reenforcing members extending from said columns and merging into opposite corners of said journal boxes.

5. In a truck frame, the combination of a tension and compression member merging at the ends thereof intojournal boxes integrally formed therewith, columns disposed between .said journal boxes and integral with said members, one of said. members being substantially of inverted U-shape having upper and lower portions forming a plurality of reenforcing members extending from said columns and merging into opposite corners of said journal boxes, said tension and compression members having spaced substantially parallel portions, the said parallel portions of said tension member being appreciably widened and having spring seats formed thereon.

6. In a truck frame, the combination of a tension and compressionmember merging at the ends thereof int-o journal boxes integrally formed therewith, columns disposed between said journal boxes and integral with said members, one of said members being substantially of inverted U-shape having upper and lower portions for. ing a plurality of reenfdrcing members extending from said columns and merging into opposite corners of said journal boxes, said tension and.

compression members having spaced substantially parallel portions, the said parallel portions of said tension member being of truss formation having an upper compression memberand a lower tension member, and tension members connecting said last named compression and tension members.

7. In a truck frame, the combination of a tension and compression member merging at the ends thereof into journal boxes integrally formed therewith, columns disposed between said journal boxes and integral with. said members, said tension and compression members having spaced substantially parallel portions, the said parallel portions of said tension member being of truss formation having an upper compression member and a lower tension member, and tension members connecting said last named compression and tension members. H

8. A side frame having a spring seat member including an upper and a'lower chord connected by diagonal members. I

9. A side frame having a spring seat member including an upper and a lower chord connected by diagonal members extending from .the ends of one of said chords to points intermediate the ends of the other of said chords.

10. A side frame having a spring seat member including an upper and a lower chord connected by diagonal members extending fr in the ends of said upper chord to points interme iate the ends of the lower'chord. i v 11. A side frame having a spring seat member including an upper; and a lower chord connected by diagonal members and vertical strut means extending between said upper and lower chords intermediate said diagonal members.

12. A side frame having a spring seat member including an upper and a lower chord connected by diagonal members extending from the ends of one of said chords to points intermediate the ends of the other of said chords, and vertical strut means extending between said upper and lower chords intermediate said diagonal members.

13. A side frame having a spring seat member including an upper and a lower chord connected by diagonal members extending from the ends of said upper chord to points intermediate the ends of the lower chord, and vertical strut means extending between said upper and lower chords intermediate said diagonal members.

14. In a truck frame, the combination of a tension and compression member merging at the ends thereof into journal boxes integrally formed therewith, and columns disposed between said journal boxes and integral with said members, said tension member having a spring seat member including an upper and a lower chord connected by diagonal members.

15. In a truck frame, the combination of a tension and compression member merging at the ends thereof into journal boxes integrally formed therewith, and columns disposed between said journal boxes and integral with said members, said tension member having a spring seat member including an upper and a lower chord connected by diagonal members extending from the ends of one of said chords to points intermediate the ends of the other of said chords.

16. In a truck frame, the combination of a tension and compression member merging at the ends thereof into journal boxes integrally formed therewith, and columns disposed between said journal boxes and integral with said members, said tension member having a spring seat member including an upper and a lower chord connected by diagonal members extending from the ends of said upper chord to points intermediate the ends of the lower chord.

17. In a truck frame, the combinaion of a tension and compression member merging at the ends thereof into journal boxes integrally formed therewith, columns disposed between said jour-' nal boxes and integral with said members, said tension member having a spring seat member including an upper and a lower chord connected by diagonal members, and vertical strut means extending between said upper and lower chords intermediate said diagonal members.

18. In a truck frame, the combination of a tension and compression member merging at the ends thereof into journal boxes integrally formed therewith, columns disposed between said journal boxes and integral with said members, said tension member having a spring seat member including an upper and a lower chord connected by diagonal members extending from the'ends of one of said chords to points intermediate the ends of the other of said chords, and vertical strut means extending between. said upper and lowerchords intermediate said diagonal members.

19. In a truck frame, the combination of a tension and compression member merging at the ends thereof into journal boxes integrally formed therewith, columns disposed between said journal boxes and. integral with said members, said tension member having a spring seat member including an upper and a lower chord connected by diagonal members extending from the ends of said upper chord to points intermediate the ends of the lower chord, and vertical strut means extending-between said upper and lower chords intermediate said diagonal members.

' 20. A car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, a tension chord, and spaced bolster columns extending vertically between said compression and tension chords, said tension chord having a central horizontal spring supporting portion including an upper web joined at its ends with said bolster columns, a lower web spaced therefrom, and inclined webs extending from said lower web and being joined with said upper web in the region of the connections of said upper web with said bolster columns.

21. A car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, a tension chord, and spaced bolster columns extending vertically between said compression and tension chords, said tension chord having a central horizontal spring supporting portion including an upper web joined at its ends with said bolster columns, a lower web spaced therefrom, vertical strut means extending between said upper and lower webs, and inclined webs extending between said upper and lower webs, each inclined web being joined at one end to the upper web in the region of connection of a bolster column therewith and at the other end to the lower web in the region of connection of a vertical strut therewith. v

'22. A car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, a tension chord, and spaced bolster and extending from said lower web and being joined with said upper web in the region of the connection of said upper web with said bolster columns.

23. A car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, a tension chord, and spaced bolster columns extending vertically between said compression and tension chords, said tension chord having a central horizontal spring supporting portion including an upper web joined at its ends with said bolster columns, a lower web spaced therefrom, vertical strut means extending between said upper and lower webs, and inclined webs extending between said upper and lower webs, each inclined web being joined at one end to the upper web in the region of connection of a bolster column therewith and at the other end to the lower web in the region of connection of avertical strut therewith.

24. A car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, a tension chord, and spaced bolster columns extending vertically between said compression and tension chords, said tension chord having a central horizontal spring supporting portion including an upper web joined at its ends with said bolster columns and having extension flanges extending beyond the sides of said frame,

' diagonal webs ext-ending upwardly from said llO having a central horizontal spring supporting por-,

tion including an upper web joined at' its ends with said bolster columns and having extension flanges extending beyond the sides of said frame, diagonal webs extending upwardly from said flanges and merging into the sides of said frame, a lower web spaced from said upper web, vertical strut means extending between said upper and lower webs, and inclined webs also extending between said upper and lower webs, each said in clined web being joined at one end to said upper web in the region of connection of the adjacent bolster column therewith and at the other end to said lower web in the region of connection of a vertical strut therewith. W I

26. A car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, a tension chord, and spaced bolster columns extending vertically between said compression and tension chords, said tension chord having a central horizontal spring supporting portion including an upper. web joined at its ends with said bolster columns and having extension flanges extending beyond the sides of said frame, said extension flanges having continuation webs extending upwardly and joining into ,the sides of said bolster columns, a lower web spaced from said upper web, and inclined webs extending from said lower web and joined with said upper web in the region of the connections of said upper web with said bolster columns.

27. A car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, a tension chord, and spaced bolster colunms extending vertically between said compression and tension chords; said tension chord having a central horizontal spring supporting portion including an upper web joined at its ends with said bolster columns and having extension flanges extending beyond the sides of said frame, said extension flanges having continuation webs extending upwardly and joining into the sides of said frame beyond the inner edges of said bolster columns, a lower web spaced from said upper web, vertical strut means extending between said upper and lower webs, and inclined webs also extending between said upper and lower webs, each said inclined web being joined at one end to said upper Webin the region of connection-of the'adjacent bolster column therewith and at the other end to said lower web in the region of connection of a vertical'strut therewith.

28. A car truck side frame comprising a 'compression chord, a tension chord, and spaced bolster columns extending vertically between said compression and tension chords, said tension chord having a central horizontal spring supv porting portion including spaced sides, an upper web joined at its ends with said bolster columns and at its sides with said spaced sides, a lower web joined at its sides with said spaced'sides, and inclined webs integral with and extending from said lower web and joining, with said upper web in the region of the connections of said upper Web with saidbolster columns.

29. A car truck side frame comprising a compressionchord, a. tension chord, and spaced bolster columns extending vertically between said compression and tension chords, said tension chord having a central horizontal spring supporting portion including spaced sides, an upper 'web joined at its ends with said bolstercolumns and at its sides with said spaced sides, a lower w'ebjoined at its sides with said spaced 'sides, and inclined webs integral with and extending from said lower web and joining with said upper web.

in the region of the connections of said upper web with said bolster columns, said inclined webs being integral at their sides with said spaced sides.

30. A single piece car truck side frame'comprising a compression chord, a tension chord, and spaced bolster columns extending vertically between said chords, each chord and bolster column having spaced sides"and said tension chord having inclined portions provided with inwardlyex tending flanges at the upper edges of its sides and a central horizontal portion including an upper web joined at its endswith said bolster columns, a lower web spaced therefrom, and inclined webs extending from saidlower web and being joined with said upper web in the region of the connections of said upper web with said bolster columns, said inclined webs extending beyond said bolster columns and 'merging into said flanges.

31. A single piece car truck side frame comprising a compression chord, a tension chord, and spaced bolster columns extending vertically between said chords, each chord and bolster column having spaced sides and said tension chord having inclined portionsprovided with-inwardly extending flanges at the upper edges of its sides and a central horizontal portion including an upper web joined at its ends with said bolster columns, a lower web spaced therefrom, and inclined webs extending from said lower web and interconnecting substantiallyof inverted U-shape having a plurality of portions connected by spaced walls and merging into opposite corners of said journal boxes.

33. In a side frame, the combination of tension and compression members merging adjacent the ends thereof into journal boxes integrally formed therewith, spaced columns integrally connecting saidtension member andforming a windowtherewith, one of said members being substantially of inverted 'U-shape and havingportions connected by spaced walls and merging into opposite corners of said journal boxes.

34. In a side frame, the combination of tension and compression members merging adjacent the ends thereof and provided with journal boxes, spaced integr'ally connecting column guides disposed between said tension and compression members and forming a window therewith, one of said members being substantially of inverted U-section, said section including a web merging into one corner of said journal boxes and provided with spaced flanges having reflanged portions, said 'reflanged portions merging adjacent another corner of said journal box, the merged portion'being connected to said last named cornerof said journal box.

,. 35. In a side frame, the'combination of a beam 14 member provided with spaced journal boxes adjacent the ends thereof, said beam member being substantially of inverted U-section, said section including a web portion merging into one corner of the journal, box and provided with spaced flanges having reflanged portions merging adjacent another corner of said journal boxes, said merged portions being connected to said corners of said journal boxes.

36. In a side frame, the combination of a beam member, a journal box integrally formed adjacent one end of said beam member, said beam member being of substantially inverted U-section, said section including a web portion merging into the outer corner of said journal box and including spaced flangeshaving reflanged portions merging adjacent the inner corner of said journal box and being connected to said inner corner of said journal box.

37. In a truck frame, the combination of tension and compression members merging adjacent the ends thereof and provided with integrally formed journal boxes, said compression member being substantially of inverted U-shape having upper and lower portions merging into opposite corners of said journal boxes and connected by spaced members. v

38. Ina side frame, the combination of tension and compression members merging adjacent the ends thereof into journal boxes integrally members and forming a window therewith, said compression member being substantially of inverted U-section, said section including a web merging into one corner of said journal boxes and provided with spaced flanges having reflanged portions, said refianged portions merging adjacent another corner of said journal box, the merged portion being connected to said last named corner of said journal box.

WILLIAM C. HEDGCOCK.

ROBERT B. COTTRELL. 

